EXCLUSIVE: Dan Purdy returns as Everton's Scouting Manager
Purdy left Everton in December
Written by Simon Austin — March 22, 2022
DAN PURDY has returned to Everton as Scouting and Operations Manager - just three months after resigning from the same role at the club.
Purdy left the Toffees in December after his boss, Director of Football Marcel Brands, was pushed out following a power struggle with manager Rafa Benitez.
However, he has now been persuaded to return by new Director of Football Kevin Thelwell, who arrived from New York Red Bulls last month. Purdy worked his first day back at the club yesterday (March 21st).
His initial spell with the Toffees lasted more than seven-and-a-half years, starting as Performance Analyst Intern and rising to Technical Scout and then Technical Scouting Co-ordinator for the first team.
In July 2019 Purdy was promoted to Manager of Scouting and Operations by Brands.
Meanwhile, Everton’s Head of Performance Analysis, Tom Gardner, has left after three years and is working as Consultant Projects Manager with Fifa.
Gardner joined the Toffees in April 2019 as Academy Performance Analysis Manager before being promoted to the first-team role a year later.
There has been an incredible turnover of staff at Everton during the last four seasons, across all departments, as you can see in the list below.
This hasn’t been helped by the fact there have been three different Directors of Football and five different managers during that period - plus mixed messages from the boardroom.
FIRST-TEAM STAFF EXITS SINCE END OF 2017/18
Directors of Football: Steve Walsh, Marcel Brands.
Managers: Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez.
Coaching: Sammy Lee, Craig Shakespeare, Martyn Margetson, Davide Ancelotti, Goncalo Pedro, Luis Boa Morte, João Pedro Sousa, Hugo Oliveira, Francisco de Miguel Moreno, Antonio Gomez.
Analysis: Antonis Lemonakis, Luca Guerra, Tom Gardner.
Medical: Cristian Fernandez, Danny Donachie, Mino Fulco, Simeone Montanaro, Matt Taberner, Dr Aboul Shaheir, Matt Connery.
Performance: Jamie Harley, Francesco Mauri, Manuel Morabito, Bruno Mendes, Ryland Morgans.
Recruitment/ scouting: Gretar Steinsson, Dan Purdy (since returned).
